The Queenstown Airport director appointed by the minority shareholder, Auckland International Airport, will change in the new year.

Mark Thomson has confirmed his intention to resign from the board effective January 1, 2025. 

Mark, the chief commercial officer for Auckland Airport, joined the Queenstown Airport board in June 2017. He will be replaced by Mary-Liz Tuck, Auckland Airport's chief planning and strategy officer.

At Auckland Airport, Mary-Liz Tuck has leadership responsibility for master planning, strategic capital planning, strategy, regulation, and sustainability. She is also a trustee for the airport marae Te Manukanuka o Hoturoa.

Queenstown Airport chair Simon Flood has welcomed her appointment and acknowledged Mark’s service.

“Mark has made a valuable contribution to the QAC board over several years,” Simon said.

We’ve greatly appreciated Mark’s airport-specific knowledge, as well as the breadth of his property and retail experience. On behalf of my fellow directors and the QAC team, I thank him for his service.”

Simon said he would welcome Mary-Liz to the board table in the new year. 

“At Queenstown Airport, we are embarking on a significant infrastructure delivery programme and Mary-Liz’s airport master planning and sustainability expertise will be welcome,” he said.

Mary-Liz said she was delighted to be joining the board “at an exciting time for the airport as it looks to progress delivery of its Master Plan and lean into the challenge of decarbonising aviation”.

Queenstown Lakes District mayor Glyn Lewers said the airport continues to perform strongly in a highly competitive market and earlier this year delivered a record dividend to council of $14.7 million. 

He said Mary-Liz would add “fresh insight and governance skills to the board to help it build on this success”. 

PHOTO: Supplied